In a patient with left ventricular failure and pulmonary edema:

A. the right atrium and ventricle pump against lower pressures, resulting in the systemic pooling of venous blood.
B. an acute myocardial infarction or chronic hypertension causes the left ventricle to pump against decreased afterload, resulting in hypoperfusion.
C. increased pressure in the left atrium and pulmonary veins forces serum out of the pulmonary capillaries and into the alveoli.
D. diffusely collapsed alveoli cause blood from the right side of the heart to bypass the alveoli and return to the left side of the heart.